"Psyched" (a freaky review by Lexi)

Dearest Readers,

I'm so excited to be sharing the next few books with you!!! They've all been great, and I'm in the process of reading yet another wonderful one!!! So get ready to read about some awesome novels!!! Today's is Psyched by Juli Caldwell!

Creepy looking cover, huh?

Summary: "Aisi Turay has it all under control. At least, she thinks she does. Forget that the most popular girl in school hates her guts and will stop at nothing to embarrass her. Forget that her little brother is tormented by the ghosts and demons she sees all the time. Forget that her mom is a con artist who pretends to be psychic to make some cash. Forget that her dad is hiding a secret than can destroy everything she knows about herself. Nope, she's got this one...until that one awful day when she nearly loses it all. With ghost-hunting hottie Vance, a guy who stumbled into her life at the worst possible moment, Aisi must search for the messages hidden in visions and memories to protect her family. Maybe, just maybe, they can reclaim what she thought was lost forever." (Thank you, Goodreads!)

The novel started out with action and did not disappoint from there on! This novel has an interesting background inside, and I'd have never thought of such a fabulous back story! I love how deep the abilities and story goes, and the paranormal ideas inside of it all!

The main character, Aisi, can see spirits, as can her little brother. Seeing what she sees can be terrifying, and her gift can be more of a curse at times. When she thinks she's all alone in this fight, it turns out that she's not, even though her family is broken, and she doesn't have many friends (okay, just the one). This novel had me from the first page, and I know that it'll grab you as well! The paranormal aspects may be fake, but you'll never think that as you're reading. The story and everything is so realistic and creepy! I think y'all will love it as much as me!

In Conclusion & Suggestions: Read it if you want a fast-paced novel that's action-filled but not too scary!

Rating:

4/5 ghosts (only because the novels I read following had me immersed in them more)


Till next time!


XOXO,

Lexi

"The Haunting of Tabitha Grey" (a terrifying Lexi review)

Dear Reader,

Do you like watching scary things? Maybe just mildly scary? If so, today's book is for you. It's truly not terrifying, but it does have some (maybe) ghosts in it, as well as some creepy twists and turns! It's The Haunting of Tabitha Grey by Vanessa Curtis.

Summary: "Set in a sprawling Victorian manor, a classic ghost story with a stunning twist

I look up at the dark, unblinking eyes of the house and I get the weirdest feeling . . . It's the feeling of being pulled into something and being unable to stop it happening . . .Tabitha is used to changing schools and moving to different houses. But when her family moves into Weston Manor, something is different. It's as if the house has been waiting for her. There are lavender smells which come from nowhere, the old servants' bells ring in the night, and she can hear crying in empty rooms. Tabitha's always been imaginative. Even her best friend Gemma knows that. But this time, could she actually be telling the truth?" (Gracias, Goodreads!)

Okay, so not only does this novel delve into Tabitha's insecurities, especially about seeing ghosts, but also into a damaged family life. I kept waiting for a ghost to attack or the proof of her being insane solidified or just something happening, but I did have to wait awhile. This novel is truly good, just not as creepy as I expected it to be, nor a huge build-up of action. However, the twist in the end is completely worth it!

In Conclusion: Why not?

Rating:

3.5/5 Victorian women


Till next time!

XOXO,
Lexi

"Spookygirl" (I'm Back! - a Lexi review)

Hello,

I'm back for the rest of the week. I still haven't found my baby (2 weeks and 1 day), but tons of people have seen him, so there's still hope. Prayers, good thoughts, anything really, is welcome. But I can't stop doing this and talking to my friends, and everything, but instead, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, but still go on in life.

So, let's get to the book, shall we? Spookygirl by Jill Baguchinsky. (That's such a mouthful!)

Summary: "Violet doesn't remember much about her late mother, but she is certain of one thing: she too can see ghosts and communicate with the dead. But when Violet discovers paranormal activity in the girls' locker room, she finds herself ill-equipped for handling the school's ghostly echoes. Through Violet's own investigation and with the help of some unlikely allies, Violet discovers there is a lot she doesn't know about her special skill--and more still that can stand in the way of its power. With sharp wit and determination, Violet sets out to uncover the truth behind her school's haunting, to finish the investigation that led to her mother's sudden death, and to learn why the only ghost she has ever wanted to see is the one that has eluded her forever."

So this novel can be cheesy in its events and names (if you read it, you'll get it). With the stereotypical goths, the story was kind of guess-able. You'll know what's going to happen before she does, which is seeming to become more the case in YA books. But the lines, thoughts, and general teenagers are just hilarious (and they're supposed to be). The take on ghosts is interesting, like why they're here and what they like. I REALLY like this novel, and it's a great take on ghosts, but based upon the other paranormal books I've been reading for fall, it's not the best...

In Conclusion: Not the best ghost book, but it's super entertaining, relatable, and funny. It's one of those "eh, read it or don't" books.

Rating:

3/5 keys

"What Happened to Cass McBride?" (a review buried deep by Lexi)

Readers,

Continuing this line of creepy books, I've gone on to What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles. Okay, so this novel is really interesting and good, so even though it's from 2006, I gotta review this.

Summary: "Kyle Kirby has planned a cruel and unusual revenge on Cass McBride, the most popular girl in school, for the death of his brother David. He digs a hole. Drugs Cass. Kidnaps her. Puts her in a box-underground. He buries her alive. But Kyle makes a fatal error: Cass knows the power of words. She uses fear as her weapon to keep her nemesis talking - and to keep herself breathing during the most harrowing 48 hours of her life." (Goodreads, you're awesome, and I love you.)

Okay, so this novel is super creepy. You get what goes through the mind of Cass, Kyle, and the police. It's crazy what you learn throughout the book. I mean, what is Cass's character like that Kyle (insanely) felt he needed to hurt her like this? (In other words, why Cass?) What is going on in her mind underground? What was Kyle like before this? When came the breaking point and what was it?

You may be tempted to get directly to one or another's POV chapters, but don't. Just read as is. It's really good, and the plot's twists, turns, and details will be shocking and you'll feel in the gray when it comes to what happened that spurred this. You might even feel kinda bad about Kyle. You'll see. The revealings of characters' lives, characters, etc. are awesome, so you'll like the character-building. The world building, way of transitioning, and more are very good as well. You'll find that this book may even change your own views, appreciations, and behaviors.

In Conclusion: If you've ever wondered what goes through the mind of all these people on the news, from the victim to the detectives to the perpetrator themselves, go for it. It's interesting.

Rating:

4/5 dirt piles

"Cryer's Cross" (a spooky review by Lexi)

Readers,

I'm writing so late tonight, and I'm so sorry. See, I was planning on finishing this novel I'm reading today, but awoke terribly late in the day, and still have sixty pages to go. Since it's 10 p.m., I decided to let myself watch TV instead, including a "Powerpuff Girl" episode where the bad guy was "Professor Dick." You have no clue how bad I was laughing!

Anywho, onto the book review of the night, which is for "Cryer's Cross" by Lisa McCann.

Goodreads Summary: "Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.
Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried..."


So if you want a creepy book, here you go! How about dark historical? Yeppers, read this. Just get that this is based on what used to happen to kids, exposed in the media, which is where the author yanked this idea from. She transformed it into a very engaging novel that will leave you feeling a mix of emotions, some happy, others sad.

The characters, scenes, and overall plot are all amazing, and this novel will truly keep you within its grasp. Also, the romance story is good as well, very well thought out, and even more believable. It was a great subplot in here.

Rating:

5/5 desks



Sincerely,

Lexi

"The Hallowed Ones" (A Lexi Review from Under the Covers, lol)

Hello, all!

Okay, so today's blog was going to be about The Sugar Queen, but I decided to postpone my view on it and go for The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle. The cover alone is creepy all by itself, and you know there's something eerie about to go down...

Now, if you're anything like me, and are interested in the Amish world (but not ever wanting to be Amish, lol), this book shows many different aspects of the culture. Of course, this is while you're being terrified out of your wits with the gore and creatures.

Book Summary: "Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning." (Huzzah for Goodreads!)

Katie is a character who, like Belle, wants "much more than this provincial life" that she's leading/stuck in. Amish are quite strict with the way their people live their lives, in every respect there is. For example, one's hat brim being a millimeter bigger than your neighbor's means that you are proud (a bad quality to them). Now, know that there are communities that are more lax, but Katie doesn't live in a community like that; her life is very determinedly chosen for her.

When this terrifying and new disease goes around, there are vampires/zombies that are more than happy to attack others and murder them. However, they stay out of her community. So bringing in a foreigner? Heck no! Not allowed! Verboten! But Katie saves a man from the other side of the fence.

While the world collapses around them, it makes you wonder if one is supposed to feel an obligation to one's neighbor in this sort of time, or is it truly every man for himself, even in an Amish community?

The characters are great, and the plot is addictive-ly scary. The development of the plot is perfectly paced, making you practically become a zombie-like creature as you try to read "just one more chapter" with the words getting fuzzy at night. It's unpredictable and fun to read. If you like strong characters that you can relate to, or feel like you "know" them, these characters won't let you down.

Summary of Review: Read this fun book! The potential nightmares are quite worth it!

Five monsters out of five! lol


Until next time!



Love,

Lexi